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The cup runneth empty

Friday, 17th march, 2000, was a huge disappointment to us as players from the South African side. We were really determined to take the series into the last match, but Tendulkar and Ganguly had other plans, and batted magnificently to give the Indians a 3-1 lead.

Once again we were unable to defend a reasonable total, and this reminds me a lot of 1994, when we came to Pakistan as an inexperienced bowling attack on these surfaces. Sometimes we forget that this was Pollock, Kallis, Elworthy and Strydom’s first tour of India, and bowling in these parts of the world is certainly a lot different to back home.

Things that we have learnt on this trip are:

1) Bowling in the first ten overs is the toughest time of the innings and bowlers who bowl there, needs nerves of steel, as they often catch the dying overs of the innings as well. It certainly is no fun being a fast bowler over here.

2) Variations and gameplans to certain batsmen are really important. It’s very hard with fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs.

3) Batting through an innings is important, as walking to the crease having to up the rate is harder for the new batsmen.

One area where I feel we’ve let ourselves down a bit was in the fielding department. Often on flat pitches, to get 10 wickets, or just to put pressure on the batsmen, fielding can go a long way to helping the bowlers. Our fielding, although not necessarily bad, wasn’t of the usually high standard.

To beat India in India is no easy task, as we found out in 1996 and 1993, but if you compete as well as we’ve done during this Pepsi Cup, and still go home empty handed, then it is disappointing. I felt that the two teams were really close and fought hard in all the matches.

What surprised me a little was the fact that the team batting second won 4 out of 4. Considering that the pitches are reasonably dry and do turn as the game goes on, this has surprised me a bit. I do believe something that makes it easier is the amount of ball changes that are allowed. At Baroda, the ball got changed twice, for harder, newer balls that make it easier to hit, and harder to defend.

Seeing that this is where most cricket equipment gets maufactured, maybe someone can come up with a ball that keeps it’s shape and colour for 50 overs.

(Gameplan)

Hansie Cronje